Utility sewing box



0. M. STIEGLER UTILITY SEWING BOX Filed Jan. 2, 1931 v Din Jan. 30, 1934.

Z M. '79 n MM, w 7 ws ffi in A r Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE 6 Claims.

It is well known that in the average family the sewing box or basket is usually in a lamentable condition. This is due to a lack of proper compartments in the box and particularly to the absence of means for placing and keeping the spools of thread in a position free from other material and so that they are easily seen and removed for use.

The purpose of my invention is, therefore, to

create an ornamental utility sewing box which will have within a space in the cover a fixture or fixtures for receiving spools upon pins properly fastened to one or more bars held in placeby ferrules or flanges screwed or otherwise fastened to the wall of said cover.

Reference is now to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. It is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my invention is defined in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a general view of the utility sewing box when open, showing spool-holders in proper position.

' Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through one of the spool racks, with part in elevation, taken substantially along the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the relative position of the parts when the spool rack has been rotated for the purpose of permitting the removal of a spool of thread from one of the spindles; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed view taken substantially 5 along the plane 44 of Fig. 3.

The work box embodying my invention comprises a .box or casing 10 which is preferably rectangular and compact in form. This box can be formed with any desired number of compartments for the reception of articles and as shown in Fig. 1 a tray or receptacle 11 divides the box into two compartments. The receptacle 11 can be supported in the box 10 in any desirable manner as by the guides or supports 12. A cover 13 is secured to the box 10 in any desirable manner as by means of hinges 14. The box 10, as well as the cover 13, can be formed of any desirable material, such as wood, metal, papier-mach or the like.

- The cover 13 is formed with a box shape, and

is provided with a depth capable of accommodating therein spools of thread of any desired size for a purpose and in a manner to be described.

I provide a plurality of spool racks 15 for accommodating the various sizes of the spools of thread (not shown). These spool racks reside wholly in the cover 13 and are secured to the opposite sides 16 and 17 thereof as by supporting members or ferrules 18. The ferrules 18 in turn are secured to the side walls 16 and 1'7 as by screws 19.

The spool racks l5 consist of an elongated rod or bar 20 which is provided with upright spindles or pins 21. The free ends of the rods 20 are supported within the ferrules 18 and are capable of relative rotational movement with respect thereto. It is thus apparent that the spool racks 15 can be rotated so that the spindles 21 extend out of the cover 13 and thus permit the removal of the spools of thread in a manner to be described.

Means are provided within the cover 13 to prevent the unassisted rotational movement of the spool rack 15. Thus, a key-way or slot 22 is formed at one of the free ends of rod 20, and is adapted to coact with a key 23 secured to the side 17 of the cover. 1 This key can be in the form of a staple which is driven into the side 17 of the cover in a manner readily apparent from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3. The key-way 22 is so 89 formed that it is in alinement with the key 23 only when the spindles 21 are in the upright position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A spring 24 can be used for urging the key-way 22 over the key 23 to lock the spool rack 15 against rotational as movement. Spring 24 is confined in ferrule 18 between wall 16 of the cover 13 and the free end of rod 20 opposite the key-way 22. It is thus. apparent that spring 24 normally acts to urge the spool rack 15 to the right and cause the keyno way 22 to be engaged by the key 23. Obviously this can only take place when the key-way 22 and key 23 are in alinement.

The operation of this device is now readily apparent from the foregoing. When it is desired as to place spools of thread on the spindles 21, the f spool rack 15 is first urged to the left against the action of spring 24 so as to permit the disengagement of the key-way 22 from the key 23. Rotational movement of the spool racks 15 is now permo mitted, and they can be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 3. When the spool racks are in this position, the spools of thread can be inserted on the spindles 21. The spool racks 15 are then rotated to their upright position within the 5 cover 13 as shown in Fig. 1. When the spool racks reach this position, the key-way 22 is in alinement with the key 23 and the spring 24 acts to lock the spool racks against relative rotational movement. It is obvious that the degree of 1 1 0 relative rotational movement of the spool racks 15 with respect to the cover 13 can be readily limited in any desirable manner, as for example, by means of stops. As this forms no part of my invention, the stops are not shown.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, I have provided three spool racks for accommodating the spools of thread. It is to be understood, however, that any desired number of these spool racks can be positioned within the cover and accordingly my invention is not to be construed as limited to the number shown. The spacings between the spindles 21 of the spool racks can vary so as to accommodate spools of thread of varying thicknesses. Thus the spindles of the lowermost spool racks are spaced at greater distance apart than the spindles 21 of the other spool racks.

In order to render my sewing box complete, I can provide a pin cushion 25 immediately below the lowermost spool rack 15. This pin cushion can be secured to the bottom side of cover 13', as. is; clearly shown: in Fig.. 1.

I claim:

1. In a work box of the-type described, a cover, a spool rack, means pivotally supporting said rack in said cover, said means comprising supporting members disposed on opposite sides of the cover and in which the free ends of the rack reside, and meansv preventing pivotal movement of said rack in said supporting members, said last named means comprising a slot in one of the freev ends of the rack, a key in the side of the cover adapted to coact with the slot, and a spring confined by one of the supporting members, the cover and the other free end of the rack.

2. In a work box of the type described, a cover hinged to said box, a spool rack, means pivotally supporting'said rack in. said cover, said means comprising supporting members disposed on opposite sides of the cover and in which the free ends of the rack. reside, and means preventing pivotal movement of said rack in said supporting members, said last named means comprising a slot in one of the free ends of the rack, a key in the side of the cover adapted to coact with the slot, and a spring confined by one of the supporting members, the cover and the other free end of the rack.

3. In a work box of the type described, a cover, a spool rack, means pivotally supporting said rack in said cover, said means comprising supporting members disposed on opposite sides of the cover and in which the free ends of the rack reside, means preventing pivotal movement of said rack in said supporting members, said last named means comprising a slot in one of the free ends of the rack, a key in the side of the cover adapted to coact with the slot, and a spring confined by one of the supporting members, the coverand the other free end of the rack, and a pin cushion secured to said cover below the rack.

4. In a work box, a cover, a spool rack, means for pivotally supporting. the rack in the cover, and resilient means acting in the direction of the pivot axis, on the rack, for holding the rack in any of a number of angular positions with renection between one end of the rod and the. other parts for releasably locking the rod against pivotal movement.

6. In a work box, a cover, a spool rack having a rod extending across the cover, means for pivotally supporting said rod at its opposite ends? on m" the cover, said means permitting limited axial movement of the rod, a spring urging the rod axially to. provide a force frictionally holding the rod against rotation, and a slot and key device at one end of the rodifor releasably locking the 1' rod against pivotal movement.

OSCAR M. STIEGLER. 

